Mary Ruth Carter Waggonner

Mary Ruth Carter Waggonner, widow of Congressman Joseph David Waggonner, Jr., passed away May 3, 2017, at the age of 96. Visitation with the family will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City, Louisiana. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. Reverend Brad Franklin and Reverend Cheryl Nelson, both of Benton United Methodist Church, will officiate. Interment will follow at Plain Dealing Cemetery. Mary Ruth was born February 12, 1921, in Minden, Louisiana, to Earl Hatcher Carter and Mae Fenton Carter. She graduated from C.E. Byrd High School and attended Louisiana Tech. At Tech she was a charter member of Beta Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Kappa Sorority and a Lagniappe Beauty. While attending Louisiana Tech, she met her husband, Joe. They were married December 14, 1941, in San Francisco where he was stationed with the U. S. Navy, and they enjoyed 65 years of marriage. Throughout these years, her family was her first priority and her love for them was evident in all she did. She was an active member of The First United Methodist Church of Plain Dealing and the Phi Delta Club. She was an avid gardener and golfer who inspired her children and grandchildren to love the sport and play competitively. She was recognized by all who knew her as an amazing cook. Her homemade hot tamales, from her mother-in-law's recipe, were prized by everyone who tasted them. Her culinary skills covered so many types of food that her family could never agree on her best dish. Mary Ruth was preceded in death by her husband in 2007. She was alsopreceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Michael K. Carter and Phillip Carter. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Jean Johnston and husband, William Thomas Johnston of Benton, LA, and her son, Joseph David Waggonner III, of New Orleans, LA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Elizabeth Johnston Blackburn and husband, Nate Blackburn, of Dallas, TX; Sarah Johnston Davison and husband, Steve Davison of Choudrant, LA; Peter Charbonnet Waggonner of New Orleans, LA; and her great-grandchildren, Thomas and Will Blackburn and Cate and Joseph Davison. She is also survived by special nieces, Ashley Turner of Hopkinsville, KY, Michele Sells of Brentwood, TN, Jack W. Gore of Plain Dealing, LA, Susan W. Smith of Bossier City, LA and sister-in-law, Billie Carter of Hopkinsville, KY. Honoring Mary Ruth as pallbearers will be, Peter Waggonner, Billy Tom Johnston, Nate Blackburn, Steve Davison, James Davison and Wayne Davis. The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Powers for his loving care over many years, special friends, Gerri Williams, Clara McGhee, and Billy Summage, and the compassionate staff at Brookdale Senior Living for their many acts of kindness during the last three years. The family suggests memorials may be made to Benton United Methodist Church, 4615 Palmetto Rd., Benton, LA 71006, First United Methodist Church of Plain Dealing, 300 E. Mary Lee Ave., Plain Dealing, LA 71064 or The Waggonner Center for Civic Engagement and Public Policy at Louisiana Tech University, P O Box 1190, Ruston, LA 71273.